Oil & Fuel Kubota Transmission/Differetial

[cutter49]

I need your help people. I am an elderly man on a fixed budget and cannot afford the $100/hr labor charge of my Kubota dealer, so I must try to do as much as I can myself. I have very limited knowledge of mechanics.

On my BX1870 (400 hrs.) I need to understand the draining/refill of fluids. There seems to be two filters in the rear and 3 drain plugs and one reservoir to refill the drained fluid. Does that reservoir then distribute fluid to the other two areas that I drained separately?

Secondly what does the HST control and is part of the Differential system?

 

[sandyc]

yes it should

 

[davesl708]

Drain all three plugs to get as much out as you can. Change the filters then refill. Operate the tractor for a short time then check the fluid level and top off as needed.

The HST is your drive unit and controls the speed you travel. Make sure the vanes on the HST do not get clogged and if there is a cooling fan on it it does not get damaged or broken.

 

[cutter49]

Drain all three plugs to get as much out as you can. Change the filters then refill. Operate the tractor for a short time then check the fluid level and top off as needed.

The HST is your drive unit and controls the speed you travel. Make sure the vanes on the HST do not get clogged and if there is a cooling fan on it it does not get damaged or broken.

Thanks for your prompt reply. I have only located one dipstick in the rear in between the 3 point levers. It is a short stick( 2in.) and was dry. Is there any other dipstick for the transmission on a BX1870?

 

[davesl708]

Thanks for your prompt reply. I have only located one dipstick in the rear in between the 3 point levers. It is a short stick( 2in.) and was dry. Is there any other dipstick for the transmission on a BX1870?

Not that I am aware of Mine only has the one where you mentioned.

 

[cutter49]

yes it should

Sorry Sandy, I am leery of "should", would have felt better with a "does"...

 

[cutter49]

Curious, how often do you refill your coolant? Seems like I have to do mine every month.

 

[davesl708]

Curious, how often do you refill your coolant? Seems like I have to do mine every month.

I never have to add coolant. You may have a loose hose clamp or leak. Keep an eye on your engine oil. If the oil looks milky or the level rises then you have an internal leak (head gasket).

 

[k0ua]

Secondly what does the HST control and is part of the Differential system?

I think you are more or less asking how the HST works, or what part it plays in making your tractor go.

Lets make it simple, the engine drives a large pump who's flow is under control of the operator by pressing on the "go" pedal. That large pumps hydraulic fluid flow is then applied to a large hydraulic motor. The shaft of that motor then drives a conventional 2 or 3 speed non synchronized gear transmission (the range control lever) that transmission drives the rear differential and a shaft goes forward to drive the front differential when it is engaged. The hydraulic fluid is shared by the Hydrostatic pump, the hydrostatic motor, the transmission, the rear differential, and the other hydraulic functions on the tractor, including the loader and the 3 point lift. The front differential stands alone with its own fluid.

 

[Grandad4]

The hydraulic fluid is shared by the Hydrostatic pump, the hydrostatic motor, the transmission, the rear differential, and the other hydraulic functions on the tractor, including the loader and the 3 point lift. The front differential stands alone with its own fluid.

Worth repeating for emphasis. Everything the tractor does, except the front axle, runs off a common pool of hydraulic fluid, fed into different systems (HST transmission, hydraulic lift, differential, power steering, etc.). Hence the single dipstick and filler location. Since there are different systems, there are different points where the fluid collects, so you have several places that must be drained when changing the hydrauilic fluid.

It's probably a bit off topic, but since just about everything on the tractor runs on hydraulics, using anything other than a top-grade hydraulic fluid is the wrong place to save a buck or two. The Kubota SUDT2 or some of the other premium hydraulic fluids are best; don't use some generic discount store "hydraulic fluid".

If you don't have an owner's manual, I think you can find them online. Very handy if you're doing the maintenance. Good luck with it, and don't be shy if you've got questions!